The Spice Blend That Takes You Home

Proof

America's Test Kitchen

Society & Culture, Food, Arts

4.4 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2021

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The smell of certain foods imprint themselves in our brains and can transport us to different places and our past. One scent in particular--the smell of za'atar--brought two Palestinian women together through social media. Nadia Tommalieh and Lulu Abura instantly shared a bond over their love for the herb and the spice blend that reminds them of their homeland. Reporter Haley Gray reports. Take our Season 8 survey here. Follow Nadia Tommalieh on Instagram here. Follow Lulu Abura on Instagram here. A note from our sponsors: Get high quality cured meats and charcuterie in stores and online at Veroni USA. Use code ATK15 for 15% off on OXO.com. Visit nakedwines.com/summerproof for $100 to spend on wine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Let's look inside your brain.
0:05.3	Did you know there's a part of your brain shaped like a horseshoe?
0:09.4	It sits above your nasal cavity.
0:11.5	It's called your olfactory bulb, and it has to do with what you smell, a freshly cut
0:17.1	orange, steaks on the grill, warm chocolate chip cookies.
0:22.5	If you can imagine the smell, you can thank your olfactory bulb.
0:27.0	Now the olfactory bulb has some interesting brain neighbors.
0:30.8	It's close to the amygdala and hippocampus, those control emotions and memories.
0:36.7	Now think about it, got a turkey roasting in the oven?
0:40.3	Your nose picks up the aroma, and the olfactory bulb sends a signal to your brain.
0:46.0	Suddenly, it makes you think of Thanksgiving.
0:51.8	This is the reason why a whiff of cotton candy can bring you back to childhood.
0:59.5	Today on Proof from America's Test Kitchen, we'll tell you a story that shows just how
1:04.5	powerful a smell can trigger a memory.
1:12.6	I'm Kevin Pang.
1:13.9	Everyone take a deep breath through your nose, and stick around.
1:24.5	Reporter Hayley Gray brings us this story.
1:29.0	Lulu and Nadia are both Palestinian women who have never lived in Palestine.
1:33.5	My name is Nadia Tomalim, I am a Palestinian immigrant.
1:37.1	Nadia is a food blogger and a cooking instructor.
1:40.1	She lives in Seattle with her husband and three boys.
1:43.0	My name is Lulu Aboude, I'm Palestinian Brazilian, New Yorker.
	...

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